tion,--which way we
haven't yet decided."

"Good enough," said Mr. Phelps, "then I'll probably see you again. I am
often a guest at Pine Branches myself, and shall hope to run across you."

As every motorist is necessarily interested in his friend's car, Mr.
Phelps naturally turned to inspect the Farrington machine before getting
into his own.

And so, to Roger's chagrin, he was obliged to admit that he was even then
under the necessity of mending a broken belt.

But to Roger's relief, Mr. Phelps took almost no notice of it, merely
saying that a detail defect was liable to happen to anybody. He looked
over the vital parts of the motor, and complimented Roger on its fine
condition. This pleased the boy greatly, and resuming his work after Mr.
Phelps' departure, he patched up the belt, while the others repacked the
kit, and soon they started off again.

Swiftly and smoothly they ran along over the beautiful roads,
occasionally meeting other touring-parties apparently as happy as they
were themselves. Sometimes they exchanged merry greetings as they passed,
for all motorists belong to one great, though unorganised, fraternity.

"I've already discovered that trifling accidents are a part of the
performance, and I've also discovered that they're easily remedied and
soon over, and that when they are over they are quickly forgotten and it
seems impossible that they should ever occur again."

"You've sized it up pretty fairly, Patty," said Roger, "and though I
never before thought it out for myself, I agree with you that that is the
true way to look at it."

On they went, leaving the miles behind them, and as Roger was anxious to
make up for lost time he went at a slightly higher speed than he would
have otherwise done. He slowed down, however, when they passed horses or
when they went through towns or villages.

Patty was greatly interested in the many small villages through which
they rode, as nearly every one showed quaint or humorous scenes. Dogs
would come out and bark at them, children would scream after them, and
even the grown-up citizens of the hamlets would stare at them as if they
had never seen a motor-car before, though Patty reasoned that surely many
of them must have travelled that same road.

"When you meet another village, Roger," she said, "do go through it more
slowly, for I like to see the funny people."

"Very well," said Roger, "you may stop and get a drink at the town pump,
if you like."

"